Refrigerator door latch



NOV. 8X, 19.38. p CRQSLEY, JR 2,135,799

REFRIGERATOR DOOR LATCH Filed April 22, 1956 (fr l INVENTOR. DOWEL CROS/.fn rf?.l

ATTORNEYS- Patented Nov. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE The Crosley Radio Corporation, Cincinnati,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application April 22, 1936, Serial No. 75,777

1 Claim.

My invention relates to latches for refrigerator doors, the object being to provide a simple, durable latch which will be operable either by the hand of the operator pulling `on the latch handle,

or by pressure against another portion of the handle which can be accomplished by the oper-v ator without using the hands.

It is often the case in use of domestic refrigerators that the user has both hands lled with objects which it is desired to place in the refrigerated compartment, and it is an evident convenience to be able to press the knee against a latch handle and by pressure release the door. This is made possible by mykinvention.

I have illustrated two examples of the novel type of latch, and will describe them irrdetail. The novelty inherent therein will be set forth in the appended claim to which reference is hereby made.'

In the drawing:-

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a domestic refrig- Fig. 4 is a detail section similar to Fig. 3, showing a modified construction.

In the particular refrigerator selected for Vpur-- poses of illustrating my invention the refrigerated compartment is closed by means of a door I, which when closed abuts against the face of the cabinet 2, surrounding the compartment opening.

The particular elements that engage with each other, i. e. the latch mechanism per se, which I have illustrated has been arbitrarily selected and itsdetails form no part of my invention. They comprise a latch plate 3 located at the interior of the door opening having a ridge 4 which engages the catch when the door is closed. The catch 5 is mounted in a case 6 which is mounted in this instance within the flange 'I of the door.

The catch is operated by a plunger 8 which reciprocates under the influence of whatever spring device is used to actuate the latch. The mechanism consisting of levers and springs whereby the plunger retracts the catch when it is pushed inwardly and springs out as the latch is projected by its spring is not illustrated, but is common in door latches for refrigerators. e

Located over the point where the plunger extends through the door is a mounting plate 9 which includes a bifurcated element I0 in which a hinge pin II is mounted. It also includes a spring post I2, which holds in place a spring I3.

The latch handle I4 has an arm I5 which extends upwardly parallel with the door face, when the latch is closed and is turned inwardly at I6 to facilitate lgrasping with the hand. The handle has also an arm II which projects downwardly from the hinge pin, and engagesthe plunger, by means of underbent flanges I8. This arm -projects beyond the point of engagement with the plunger and this projection is long enough to permit of ready engagement by the operators knee, elbow or what not. The spring I3 engages the inside of the handle and holds it in position generally parallel to the door face, when not in use.

As so constructed-the operator can grasp the arm l5 and pull it outwardly. This depresses the plunger by the lever action of the handle, and pulls out the latch.

If, however, the hands are occupied, then by pressing against the arm Il, the plunger can be depressed in like manner, and the tdoor will swing free. The doors in refrigerators are tightly heid closed and will spring away enough to swing free upon a release of the latch in the absence of very heavy pressure. As an example in the illustrated showing, the rubber'strip I9 is compressed when the door is closed and acts to push the door partially open the yinstant the latch is released, so that it will not engage again.

If the catch is withdrawn by pulling on the plunger rod instead of upon pushing it in, the only modification will be to connect the'plunger to the upper section of the handle, whereupon it will operate in the same way, as has been described.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a modified construction in which the handle I4 is placed beyond the edge of the door. I provide a shaft ,20, journaled inA the door ange 1, and aix the handle I4 to the projecting end thereof. Within the recess 2|,

there is fixed to the shaft 20 an arm 22 which is adapted to abut the end of the plunger 8. In this construction it will be noted that the plunger 8 is somewhat shorter than in the other construction. 'Ihe operation of this mechanism is the same as described above in connection with Figs. 1 to 3` inclusive.

In the claim that follows, I will designate the type of latch employed as a plunger type latch meaning that a reciprocating rod or plunger is used to operate the catch element of the latch.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

A latch 'for refrigerator doors comprising a plunger type latch and a handle therefor having two arm's,'and amounting element inountedon `said door, the plunger ot the latch extending through said door and said mounting element, said handle being pivotally mounted on said mounting element and said plunger abutting the inner portion oi' said handle to one side of said pivot. whereby pulling on' one arm of the handle or pushing on the other arm of the handle will operate the latch, spring retaining means on said mounting element and a spring retained thereby and bearing against the inner portion oi' said 5 handle on the same side of said pivot as said plunger.

POWEL CROSLEY, JR. 

